Kendrick Lamar hype.... I don't get it.

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M

Majestad

Banned
I should start by saying that I think he can be a good rapper. Section 80? Good effort, although repetitive and sometimes sleep inducing. Good Kid? Great album, and that's it (it was hyped as the greatest album ever and a classic that would influence rap since it came out. I never saw anything like that).

Now you have his latest album " To Pimp A Butterfly" which got insane reviews, so more than ever I'm convinced that he has to be one of the most overrated artists I've ever seen. This album in particular, what the fuck? What does it make it so amazing and heads above the rest of great rap albums out there?

You would be fucking ashamed if somebody caught you bumping shit like "For Free?" "I" or "King Kunta". This shit is corny as a motherfucker, yet dumbass critics have convinced themselves that this is some kind of cohesive piece of art, and as a result, brainwashed a bunch of people into thinking Kendrick is some kind of Messiah and the only one in the rap game with something to say (sorry Macklemore).

I've listened to "To Pimp a Butterfly" 5 times, from beginning to end, uninterrupted, and I don't get it. Production is boring as fuck. The songs are random, the flows are meh at best, and Kendrick's voice will always be like hearing a chipmunk trying to rap. Not to mention that his albums sound so bloated, what with all those ridiculous long ass skits and interludes. He "interviewed" 2Pac at the end!! Cute. Will I ever hear it again? No.

There's some good stuff like The Blacker the Berry and Hood Politics (except for the annoying "boo boo"), but other than that, this album doesn't do anything for me. After someone posts the idontlikething.jpeg, can you explain what on Earth do people see on Kendrick that makes them go ga-ga for him? How can he get critics riding his dick so hard? Dude has a metacritic score of 96, but I can post a song from an album that has 88 that's better than anything on his latest album.

I'm convinced that if Kendrick Lamar released an album at this point that consisted of him doing fart noises, rapping with his chipmunk voice and terrible accents, and added random long ass skits every other song with parts of the Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a dream" speech, people would try to over analyze things and say the album is a thematic masterpiece that empowers black people, black culture and/or some other bullshit.
 
T

TronLight

Everybody is Mikkelsexual
Majestad said:
You would be fucking ashamed if somebody caught you bumping shit like "For Free?" "I" or "King Kunta". This shit is corny as a motherfucker, yet dumbass critics have convinced themselves that this is some kind of cohesive piece of art, and as a result, brainwashed a bunch of people into thinking Kendrick is some kind of Messiah and the only one in the rap game with something to say (sorry Macklemore).
Click to expand...

I didn't read a single interview or review for To Pimp a Butterfly and I think the album is a masterpiece. And haven't even listenened to good kid maad city.
 
C

Courage

Member
His songwriting and ambition is what makes the album really. Plus how it all flows thematically. I agree, it's not the masterpiece critics claim it is, but it's definitely a great album.

The instrumentation is different. It's not the best jazz or funk has to offer, but in a sea of trap albums, this is a breath of fresh air.
 
S

SmackDaddy

Member
I like him because his shit just sounds different. He's not saying to himself.. Okay, I got this one voice. How do I mix up the flow slightly with a slightly different bass beat about a slightly different subject?

It's balanced, it's playing from both sides of his debate, it's taking the listener on a sonic journey. It's ballsy and it works and its a change of pace.

You forgot GKMC in your OP. That album fucking destroyed.

EDIT: You think the production is boring as fuck on To Pimp a Butterfly? Holy reekrus. Some of the best production I've heard in an album in a LOOONNNGG time. I'd like to hear what you think is boring about it. Dope instrumentation, great jazzy feel, interesting sonic backdrops for even the more simple numbers like King Kunta.
 
M

MarzipaNMOS

Member
whats the song with an 88 thats better than anything on his album?

and people like the album because of how cohesive it is, and they appreciate the story its telling. the album isn't full of radio singles (judging from your post about "bumping" to music, thats what you want?), it really is about black empowerment. its hip hop that tells a story and communicates something, not hip hop thats meant to make you dance. not all music has to do the same thing... you got your action flicks and your dramas, kendricks new album is more of a drama, you seem to like action flicks
 
W

wenis

Registered for GAF on September 11, 2001.
Majestad said:
Of albums that have gotten amazing reviews, MBFTF is something I can get behind.
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black-dynamite-you-dopdsdb.gif
 
M

Majestad

Banned
I wonder if the Dr. Dre protege / Aftermath association bullshit has had a huge influence in people's perception of him.
 
F

FZZ

Banned
His lyricism is what makes it good, that in addition to its daring production in what is a sea of more bass oriented trap songs makes critics fucking love the whole thing.

Honestly speaking it is several notches below MBDTF. The first half of the album suffers from a major issue with Kendrick's flow and tone and the production of the songs. It is irritable and doesn't immerse you like the second half does. It's funny because in the first half the production is good and his lyricism is good, but together it just isn't. And a lot of critics overlooking that is sad honestly.
 
F

Floridian

Member
I'm a Yeezy stan and I prefer TPAB over MBDTF tbqh. Its cohesiveness, musical elements, & social message makes it timeless for me. It's a good difference compared to recent rap album releases.
 
F

f0rk

Member
You just clearly don't give a fuck about no politics in rap

It would be pretty shocking if there was an album with better story telling and writing this year. As an album it is amazing, but there aren't really any strong singles. Could see Kanye or Drake being more enjoyable
 
F

fader

Member
Everyone has opinions and I'll respect yours, you just don't enjoy the album, that's fine. There are a million other "rappers" doing the same thing and if you enjoy that, that's fine.
Kendrick is manly loved for his writing skills and experimentation; the latter likely to scare people off who are use to a certain style of hip-hop. That is why the album is being praised, not because of bass boosted song's with catchy hooks and drums, but because of the talent and the love he puts towards his music and it is visible with TPAB. As for those who don't see that because they rather have "bangers"... then I just pity them...

Courage said:
when shit hits the fan, majestad ain't a fan
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i lol'ed....
 
B

Booshka

Member
FZZpure said:
His lyricism is what makes it good, that in addition to its daring production in what is a sea of more bass oriented trap songs makes critics fucking love the whole thing.

Honestly speaking it is several notches below MBDTF. The first half of the album suffers from a major issue with Kendrick's flow and tone and the production of the songs. It is irritable and doesn't immerse you like the second half does. It's funny because in the first half the production is good and his lyricism is good, but together it just isn't. And a lot of critics overlooking that is sad honestly.
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I prefer the first half of the album actually, Wesley's Theory is probably my fav song, and King Kunta jams hard.

I want the Funk and Jazz, and the first half delivers. Whole album is Gold, but the Funk, Jazz, Soul and overall production is what makes me love it. It's also exceptionally replayable because of how many different musical genres and styles it touches.
 
E

Extollere

Sucks at poetry
Sometimes, just sometimes, a thing is much more than the sum of its parts. Whatever it is about that thing just resonates with somebody for some reason, and they adore it more and more. For others, less so...Part of the problem are these completely arbitrary and meaningless numbers we assign to our feelings about said thing.

Just because TPAB has incredible scores doesn't mean it's any better than the countless greats before it. It doesn't mean you have to "get it". It just means a lot of people liked it enough to leave positive reviews and thus, contribute to the silly number attached to it.
 
G

Guevara

Member
I agree, OP. I bought his last album after the insane hype and ended up only kind of liking a couple tracks. Really I just need to stop buying rap albums, they virtually always disappoint. The "album" is dead to me, better to just get the few singles you like.
 
M

Mayyhem

Member
I don't agree with your whole post, but I agree about most of what you said about his recent album.

I listened to it once though, can't be bothered to give it another listen.
 
D

Discotheque

Banned
f0rk said:
You just clearly don't give a fuck about no politics in rap

It would be pretty shocking if there was an album with better story telling and writing this year. As an album it is amazing, but there aren't really any strong singles. Could see Kanye or Drake being more enjoyable
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Lyrically it's likely the best rap album of the year

Do not enjoy most of the production on here at all tho. Only songs where I'm really feeling the overall song is blacker the berry, hood politics, dollar cost and mortal man

The rest sounds unappealing due to the production and the gremlin voice he keeps doing imo

I get why it's so acclaimed though, but sadly theres too much unappealing sound in it for me
 
V

Valhelm

contribute something
Majestad said:
Of albums that have gotten amazing reviews, MBFTF is something I can get behind.
Click to expand...

They're very different types of albums. What did you find corny about TPAB? I feel like MBDTF is a lot worse that way, with Monster and Runaway.
 
D

Discotheque

Banned
Courage said:
My top 5 tracks:

  1. How Much A Dollar Cost
  2. Mortal Man
  3. The Blacker The Berry
  4. Hood Politics
  5. You Ain't Gotta Lie
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Top 2 are already top 5 songs by him of all time imo. Really dope stuff

Also should mention I love the interlude he has right after "i" finishes
 
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